Begonia plant named ‘Innbellab’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Innbellab’, characterized by its compact, mounded and pendulous plant habit; freely branching habit; and numerous flowers that are pale pink in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INNBELLAB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida, commercially known ashybrid tuberose Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Innbellab’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new hybrid tuberose Begonia cultivars withattractive flower form and color.

The new Begonia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin 2003 of the Begonia×tuberhybrida cultivar Elserta, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inGensingen in 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Gensingen, Germany since 2004, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Innbellab has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Innbellab’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Innbellab’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofBegonia:

-   -   1. Compact, mounded and pendulous plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Numerous flowers that are pale pink in color.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parent, thecultivar Elserta, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Elserta.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Elserta differ in        flower color as plants of the cultivar Elserta have orange        red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the cultivarChampagner, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inGensingen, Germany, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants ofthe cultivar Champagner in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Champagner.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia were smaller than leaves        of plants of the cultivar Champagner.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Champagner        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Champagner        had soft yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Innbellab’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and flower buds of ‘Innbellab’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photograph and following observations and measurementswere grown in Bonsall, Calif. in 20-cm containers and under commercialpractice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse during the spring andsummer. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged21° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels were about5,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and the descriptionwere about four months from planting.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida cultivar Innbellab.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Begonia×tuberhybrida cultivar            Elserta, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures of about 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at            temperatures of about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days            at temperatures of about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 to 35            days at temperatures of about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium to thin, fibrous; ivory in color.            Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form            tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, mounded and pendulous plant habit;            freely basal branching with about ten primary branches per            plant; primary branches with secondary branches at            potentially every node. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 48 cm.        -   Branch description.—Length: About 20.5 cm. Diameter: About            9 mm. Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 148C tinted with 181D.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 11.5 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate with            reniform tendencies. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obliquely            cordate. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate to pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: 138A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: 147C. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: 137B; venation, 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: 147C; venation, 147C. Petiole length: About 3.3 cm.            Petiole diameter: About 2.5 mm. Petiole texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; occasionally with            scattered hairs. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces:            174D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Sterile double flowers with numerous tepals            and pistillate single flowers with four to five tepals;            flowers axillary and typically arranged in pendulous            clusters of two. Freely flowering habit with about eight            flowers and flower buds per branch. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring in Germany. Flowers last about four to five days            on the plant. Flowers not persistent.        -   Flowers.—Shape, double and single flowers: Rounded to ovate.            Diameter, double flowers: About 6.8 cm. Diameter, single            flowers: About 5.4 cm. Depth (height), double flowers: About            3.5 cm. Depth (height), single flowers: About 3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape, double and single flowers: Ovoid.            Length, double flowers: About 2.8 cm. Length, single            flowers: About 3.6 cm. Diameter, double flowers: About            2.7 cm. Diameter: single flowers: About 2.1 cm. Color,            double and single flowers: Close to 155A tinted with 54D.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement, double and single flowers: Rosette.            Quantity per flower, double flowers: About 115 in numerous            whorls. Quantity per flower, single flowers: About three to            five in a single whorl. Length, double flowers: About            3.2 cm. Length, single flowers: About 2.7 cm. Width, double            flowers: About 1.2 cm. Width, single flowers: About 2 cm.            Shape, double and single flowers: Elliptical. Apex, double            and single flowers: Acute. Base, double and single flowers:            Attenuate. Margin, double and single flowers: Entire.            Texture, double and single flowers, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, double and single            flowers: When opening, upper surface: 155C. When opening,            lower surface: 155D. Fully opened, upper surface: 155D            tinted with 56B; pink tinting most prominent towards the            margins. Fully opened, lower surface: 155D tinted with 56C            to 56D; pink tinting most prominent towards the margins.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Present on double and            single flowers; two, opposite. Length: About 2.6 cm. Shape:            Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 155D; towards the margins, tinted with 54D.            Color, lower surface: 54D.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: Drooping. Length, double flowers: About            3.8 cm. Length, single flowers: About 2.5 cm. Diameter,            double and single flowers: About 2 mm. Texture, double and            single flowers: Smooth, glabrous. Color, double and single            flowers: Lighter than 182D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed on double or            single flowers. Pistils: Only observed on single flowers.            Pistil length: About 2.6 cm. Stigma shape: Irregular,            undulate. Stigma color: 17C. Style length: About 6 mm. Style            color: 17D. Ovary color: 145B tinted with 182B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Begonia has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Innbellab’ as illustrated anddescribed.